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J. P. OTT & A. E. KENNELLY. MEANS FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRIC MOTORS.

No. 489,687. Patented'Jan. 10, 1893.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

J. P. OTT & A. E. KENNELLY. MEANS FOR CONTROLLING ELBUTRIU MOTORS.

No. 489,687. I Patented-Jan. 10, 1893.

(No Model.)

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Y No. 489,687. Patented Jan. 10, 1893.

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- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. OTT AND ARTHUR E. KENNELLY, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TOTHE EDISON GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRIO MOTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 489,687, dated January10, 1893.

Application filed May '7, 1891- Serial No. 391,861. (No model.)

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN F. OTT, a citizen of the United States, andARTHUR E. KEN- NELLY, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residingat Orange, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Means for Controlling Electric Motors, ofwhich the following is a specification.

[0 The present invention relates to switch and resistance apparatusdesigned especially for controlling electric motors employed to propelvehicles, and the main object is to provide improved devices by whichthemotor can be controlled in a safe and efficient manner from eitherend of the vehicle.

The apparatus to be described is designed especially for use on avehicle having circuits and apparatus such as invented and used by Mr.Edison, comprising a motor, a switch at each end of the car forcontrolling the same, one switch closing the circuit of the motorin onedirectionfand the other switch closing the circuit of the motor in theopposite three-- tion only, and both switches serving to throwresistance into or out of the field magnet circuit; and also to controlthe resistance in a shunt around a magnetic clutch which serves totransmit power, from the motor to the caraxle. It will be clear,however, that several features of the present improvement are applicableto other circuits and locations.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a View of the switch,theinclosing case being 5 in section; Fig. 2 is a plan View of a handle foroperating the switch; Fig. 2 is a side view of the handle, partly insection and on a larger scale than Fig. 1; Fig. 3- is a view of a carplatform showing the switch apparatus and resistance box in placethereon; Fig. 4 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of a part of theapparatus; Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the switch as applied to thecircuits of a vehicle; and Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the 5 drum 7taken above the second row of contacts and looking downward.

In Fig. 1, 1 is the back plate supporting the several parts of theswitch by means of brackets 2, 3, 4, and is adapted to be secured to thedash-board 5, of Fig. 3. 6 is a sheet metal case inclosin g theswitching apparatus. WVithin the case is a stationary cylinder 7 ofinsulating material, such as wood. This cylinder is held between thecaps 8 secured to the two brackets 3, 4. Through the center of thecylinder extends a spindle 9, to which is secured, so as to turntherewith, arms 10, 11 and 12. To the first two arms, but insulatedtherefrom, is connected a cross-arm 13, and this arm carries severalbrushes or current collecting devices 15, and an additional brush ordevice 16 which is insulated from the arm 13. All of these brushes bearon the circular rows of contact plates or strips on the cylinder, asshown, and from the several plates wires extend to the resistance box.No attempt is made to indicate in Fig. 1 the manner in which thesecontact strips are divided, that being shown in the diagram. Thecontacts are so arranged on the cylinder that the switch brushes do nothave to travel entirely around to pass over all of the contacts. Belowthe arm 11 are two conducting rings 17 on which bear brushes 18. Theupper ring is connected by wire 19 with the arm 13, while the lower oneis connected by wire 20 with the insulated brush 16. The arm 12 carriesa contact brush 21, 22 at each end. The former co-operates with a seriesof short contacts and the latter rides on a long contact, for a purposehereinafter described. The arrangement of contacts is such that beforebrush 22 reaches the first resistance contact, the main brushes willhave passed over all of their contacts. Near the upper end of the 8 5spindle is a circuit maker and breaker consisting of a block or disk 23,having several cam faces, as shown in Fig. 4. Alternating faces areprovided with the conducting strips or plates 24, while the other facesare of in 0 sulating material, and terminate in shoulder 25. This blockor disk is free to turn on the spindle, and is turned by means of theblock 26 which is connected with it. This block is provided with severalholes 27 adapted to re- 5 ceive a handle 28 by which the block may beturned. When the handle is in position to hold the block turned to closethe circuit by bringing the springs 29, 30, onto the conducting stripsor plates 24, the handle will rest [00 in a locking device 31. The block26 is provided with a central cavity 32 in which the lug 33 of theswitch handle can move when said handle is turned to operate the switch.Communicating with this cavity is a passage 34 of the shape shown inFig. 4, that is, extending in two directions as indicated at 34 to admitthe projection 33 of the switch-handle. Over the block 26 is a plate orbracket 35 which is provided with an opening for the reception of thehandle, said opening being extended in one direction only to admit thelug 33, as indicated at 36. 37 is a splineor rib on the spindle adaptedto fit the corresponding groove 37 in the sleeve of the handle. 38 is abox which contains resistance lamps or devices 39, said resistance beingthrown into or out of circuit by the switch apparatus.

Referring now to Fig. 5, we will describe the application of theapparatus to the circuits of a vehicle motor: The contacts of the drum 7are shown developed at 38'. The first contact plates 40, 41 of the upperrows are as long as the several contacts 42 of the lower row. Betweeneach contact of the latter row is included a resistance lamp or device39. The strip 43 extends half way or more around the switch cylinder,and is connected to contact 41. Between the contact and the succeedingcontact 40 are connected resistance lamps or devices 39, as shown.Between contact 41 and the succeeding contact 41' are connected severalof such resistance devices, for example three, and so on for thesucceeding contacts. The last contact plate 41" is connected with 43.Thethreestrips 44 are not connected with the circuits. The contacts 40of the first vertical row are connected with corresponding contacts atthe right of the strips 44, as shown. The contacts of the succeedingvertical rows are similarly connected, although to avoid confusion thisis not shown in the drawings. 45 is a trolley wire against which trolley46 bears. From the trolley wires extend to the two switches arranged atopposite ends of the vehicle. The circuit is shown closed at the left ofthe diagram, the springs 30 resting on one plate 24 and the springs 29resting on the opposite plate. From one of the springs 30 awire 47extends to the lower commutator brush 48 of the vehicle motor, and fromthe upper brush a wire 49 extends to first spring 29, and from theopposite spring a wire 50 extends through the coil 51 of magneticclutch, and thence to ground G. From the trolley wire branches a wire 52which extends to the upper brush 18; thence by wire 19 to the switch-arm13. From c011- tact 40 a wire 51 extends to thelowerbrush 18, and thenceby wire 20 to the insulated brush 16. From the contact 41 a wire 52extends to a brush 18' at the opposite switch and by wire 19' to theswitch-arm 13, and thence by wire 53 through the field magnet of themotor and by wire 54 to ground G. The long contact plate or strip 42 isconnected by wire 55 to wire 50. The first contact 42 is connected bywire 56 to the ground wire between the ground and the magnetic clutch.It is thought unnecessary to describe the connections of the switch atthe right in detail, they being the same as already set forth. Thecontact plates may be arranged on the periphery of the drum as indicatedin Fig. 6, where the contacts 41, 41 due. only occupy a portion of thecircumference, and all the changes necessary can be made by moving theswitch brushes 15, 21 (KYO. through an arc of ninety degrees or a littlemore. The contacts 42 on which the brush 21 bears are dotted in, beingbelow the bottom of the drum 7. These contacts occupy the same are asthe long contact 41.

When it is desired to start the motor, the handle is put in place, whichcan only be done when the block 26 is in position to hold the circuitopen at springs 29, 30, since in that position one of the extensions34of the opening 34 will be in line with the opening 36. When the handlehas thus been put in place, the block 26 is turned by placing the handle28 in one of the holes 27 and moving it throughforty-fivedegrees,therebyallowingthesprings 29, 30 to snap from theshoulder 25 of the insulating block onto the conducting plates 24,suddenly closing the motor circuit at several points. This movement ofthe block 26 brings the shoulder at the upper side of the cavity 32under the extension 36 of the opening in the bracket 35 and forms a trapor look so that the handle cannot be withdrawn, since the lug 33 when inline with the opening in the bracket would be directly under saidshoulder. To remove the handle, therefore, it is necessary to turn theblock through a quarter revolution. 1V ith this arrangement, it isimpossible for the operator to remove the handle without breaking thearmature circuit, and he must break said circuit before he can close thecircuit of the motor in the opposite direction at the other end of thecar, since the other switch is operated by means of the same handle. Itwill be evident that when the second quarter turn is given to the blockthe circuit will be broken instantaneously at several points.

The armature circuit may be traced as follows: From the trolley to wire47 through the armature to wire 49, to wire 50 and to ground. By tracingthe circuit through the opposite switch, it will be clear that when thatswitch is used, the circuit through the motor armature is from the upperbrush to the lower-brush, hence when this switch is used the motor willbe driven in the opposite direction.

The field magnet circuit maybe traced as follows: From the trolley wire52, wire 19, switch-arm 13, to wire 52, to the switch-arm 13 at theopposite switch to wire 53, through the field magnet to ground. Thiscircuit contains no artificial resistance. With the circuits in thiscondition, the motor will be running at a speed to drive the car aboutfour miles an hour, but the car will not be moved because the clutch isshort-circuited by wires 50, 55 and 56 and switch-arm 12.

more and more resistance into the short-cir-.

cuit and increasing the amount of current through the clutch coil 51,until finally spring 21 passes from the last contact 42 and breaks theshort circuit or shunt to the clutch. This movement of the switch hasnot affected the circuit of the field magnet, because of the length ofthe plates 40, 41, but just after clutch short-circuit is broken theswitch-arm comes in line with the first vertical row of contacts 40'.This throws six resistance lamps or devices into the field magnetcircuit in multiple are, thereby increasing the speed of the motor.NVhen the switch-arm is moved onto the second vertical row of contacts40 six more lamps are thrown into the field magnet circuit in multiplearc, but in series with the first six lamps, and so on for the fourvertical rows of lamps. The next movement of the switch will throw outof circuit the upper line of lamps, leaving four groups of five lampseach in circuit; while the next movement will out out the second line oflamps and leave four groups of four lamps each in circuit; the followingmovement will out out the third row leaving four groups of three lampseach in circuit; the next movement, which brings the switch-arm onto thefirst vertical row of contacts at the right of strips 44, will give fivegroups of 'three lamps each, the circuit being over the switch-arm tothe first vertical row of contacts 40 by means of the connecting wiresthrough three lamps in multiple arc to plate 40, by wires 51 and 20 tothe contact 16, to contact 43' to 41' through four groups of lamps, andthence to the field magnet. When the arm is again moved three more lampswill be thrown into circuit, as will be clear without furtherdescription. From this it will be seen that the operation of the switchdescribed first varies resistance clutch short-circuit, then breaks saidshort circuit, and then throws resistance devices into the field magnetcircuit in large multiple are groups, the number of groups graduallyincreasing and then, while maintaining the number of groups in saidcircuit, gradually decrease the number in each group until the number ineach group is reduced to threetor any suitable number), and thengradually increases the number of these small groups, whereby by asimple movement of the switchhandle, and by the use of only twenty-fourresistance devices, ten different resistance units may be thrown intothe field magnet circuit, for the purpose of regulating its speed fromits minimum speed, say, four miles an hour up to its maximum speed, say,twelve miles an hour.

We are aware of the invention set forth in Mr. Edisons applicationSerial No. 378,258. The circuits of our diagram (Fig. 5) differ from thecircuits set forth in said application only in certain connections dueto the form of our switching apparatus, and in having two sets ofresistance devices, one at each end of the car, instead of having oneset of resistances arranged beneath the car and having wires extendingtherefrom to the two switches.

hat we claim is,

1. The combination in a switching apparatus of a stationary cylinder onthe surface of which are a series of contact strips or plates, a spindlepassing through said cylinder, means for turning said spindle, and anarm having contact devices co-operating with said contact strips andmoved by the spindle, means for preventing more than one successiverotation of the spindle in the same direction whereby the switch-arm ismoved over the cylinder contacts, first in one direction and then in theother substantially as described.

2. The combination in a switching apparatus, of a stationary cylinder ordrum, a spindle passing loosely through it, means for turning thespindle, a switch-arm carried by the spindle and having severalconnected contact devices co-operating with corresponding rows ofcontacts on the drum, and an insulated contact brush carried by said armand co-operating with a corresponding row of contacts on the drum,substantially as described.

5a The combination, in a switching apparatus, of a stationary cylinderor drum on the surface of which are a series of contact strips connectedthrough resistance lamps or devices, a spindle passing loosely throughsaid drum, means for turning the spindle, and an arm having contactdevices co-operating with said contact strips and moved by said spindle,means for preventing more than one successive rotation of the spindle inthe same direction whereby the switch-arm is moved over the spindlecontacts, and the resistance in circuit is varied, substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination, in a switch, of a cylinder or drum having contactsand a switcharm co-operating therewith, of a circuit maker and breakerloosely mounted on a spindle passing through the drum, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination, in a switch, of a cylinder or drum having contactsand a switcharm co-operating therewith, of a circuit maker and breakerloosely mounted on a spindle passing through the drum, said circuitmaker and breaker consisting of a block having alternating, conductingand non-conducting cam faces, and co-operating contact springs,substantially as described,

6. The combination, in a switch, of a cylinder or drum having contactsand a switcharm co-operatin g therewith, of a circuit maker and breakerloosely mounted on a spindle passing through the drum, said circuitmaker and breaker consisting of a block having alternating, conductingand non conducting cam faces and co-operating springs, means for movingthe spindle, and independent means for moving the circuit maker andbreaker, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a switch, a removable handle for moving it, a trapor look for holding the handle in place when the circuit is closed, andmeans independent of the handle for operating said trap or lock torelease the handle, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a switch mechanism having a spindle by means ofwhich the switch may be operated, a handle adapted to fit said spindlein a certain definite position, a plate adjacent to the spindle havingan opening adapted to receive the handle, a block adjacent to the firstplate and having an opening also adapted to receive the handle, wherebywhen said openings are in line the handle may be put in place orremoved, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a cylinder or drum on the surface of which arecontacts, a switcharm having contact devices co-operating therewith, aspindle passing through the drum and serving to move the movable memberof the switch, a second switch-arm with contact devices also moved bysaid spindle, and contacts connected by resistances with which saiddevices co-operate said second switch-arm and its contacts beingarranged to eifect their operation before the first mentioned switch-armand contacts, substantially as described.

10. The combination of a motor, a series of resistances a switch forthrowing said resistances into circuit in groups and means for closingthe armature circuit in one direction, only a separate switch and aseparate set of resistances, and means for closing the armature in theopposite direction, only substantially as described.

11. The combination of an electric motor and means at two differentpoints for controlling it, each of said means consisting of a series ofresistance lamps or devices, a switch for throwing said resistances intothe field magnet circuit in large multiple are groups, the number of thegroups gradually increasing, then in multiple are groups with decreasingnumbers in each group, and finally in small groups gradually increasingin number, substantially as described.

12. The combination of an electric motor and means for controlling itconsisting of a series of resistance devices and a switch havingcontacts for throwing said devices into the motor circuit by a simplemovement of the switch-arm in large multiple are groups, increasing thenumber of groups and then decreasing the number of devices in eachgroup, substantially as described.

13. The combination of an electric motor and means for controlling itconsisting of a series of resistance devices, and a switch havingcontacts for throwing said devices into the motor circuit by a simplemovement of the switch-arm in large multiple are groups, increasing thenumber of groups and then decreasing the number of devices in eachgroup, and finally for throwing in small multiple are groups,substantially as described.

Signed this 25th day of April, 1891.

JOHN F. OTT. ARTHUR E. KENNELLY.

Witnesses:

CHARLES M. OATLIN, JOHN F. RANDOLPH.

